Last night’s Game Awards event was a terrific showcasing of the best of the best of 2018 as well as an exciting platform for developers to announce what’s coming next year.
Much like the video games that were up for nomination, it was obvious that this highly professional livestream show requires a tremendous amount of preparation, planning, and work as well as the involvement of a large amount of people.
When all is said and done, however, it’s producer & host Geoff Keighley, that deserves most of the credit.
Although the livestream was quite long, clocking in at almost 3 1/2 hours (including the pre-show), not a moment was wasted with the presentation or receiving of awards or when it came to the “world premiere” announcements. (Take note Academy Awards)!
Besides the Game of the Year reveal, one of the most extraordinary moments of the whole night occurred just as things were getting started when, for the first time ever, the head honchos from the BIG 3 (Reggie Fils-Aime, Phil Spencer, & Shawn Layden), stood side by side on stage to discuss how the video game industry benefits when everyone works together for a common goal. (Yes, it was truly as remarkable as it sounds).
Of course, the reason that most people were watching, other than hoping to see a trailer for the one game they’ve been waiting/hoping for, was to find out who won in each category.
For those of you who may’ve missed out on the show, here’s a recap of the nominees and who took home each prize.
Game of the Year
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Celeste
God of War
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Monster Hunter: World
Red Dead Redemption 2
Winner: God of War
Best Ongoing Game
Destiny 2: Forsaken
Fortnite
No Man’s Sky
Overwatch
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Winner: Fortnite
Best Game Direction
A Way Out
Detroit: Becoming Human
God of War
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Red Dead Redemption 2
Winner: God of War
Best Narrative
Detroit: Becoming Human
God of War
Life is Strange 2: Episode 1
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Red Dead Redemption 2
Winner: Red Dead Redemption 2
Best Art Direction
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
God of War
Octopath Traveler
Red Dead Redemption 2
Return of the Obra Dinn
Winner: Return of the Obra Dinn
Best Score/Music
Celeste
God of War
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Octopath Traveler
Red Dead Redemption 2
Winner: Red Dead Redemption 2
Best Audio Design
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Forza Horizon 4
God of War
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Red Dead Redemption 2
Winner: Red Dead Redemption 2
Best Performance (voice acting/motion capture)
Bryan Dechart as Connor, Detroit: Becoming Human
Christopher Judge as Kratos, God of War
Melissanthi Mahut as Kassandra, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Roger Clark as Arthur Morgan, Red Dead Redemption 2
Yuri Lowenthal as Peter Parker, Marvel’s Spider-Man
Winner: Roger Clark
Games for Impact
11-11 Memories Retold
Celeste
Florence
Life is Strange 2: Episode 1
The Missing: JJ Macfield and the Island of Memories
Winner: Celeste
Best Independent Game
Celeste
Dead Cells
Into the Breach
Return of the Obra Dinn
The Messenger
Winner: Celeste
Best Mobile Game
Donut County
Florence
Fortnite
PUBG Mobile
Reigns: Game of Thrones
Winner: Florence
Best VR/AR Game
ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission
Beat Saber
Firewall Zero Hour
Moss
Tetris Effect
Winner: ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission
Best Action Game
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Dead Cells
Destiny 2: Forsaken
Far Cry 5
Mega Man 11
Winner: Dead Cells
Best Action/Adventure Game
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
God of War
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Red Dead Redemption 2
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Winner: God of War
Best Role Playing Game (RPG)
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Monster Hunter: World
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Octopath Traveler
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Winner: Monster Hunter: World
Best Fighting Game
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Soul Calibur VI
Street Fighter V Arcade
Winner: Dragon Ball Fighter Z
Best Family Game
Mario Tennis Aces
Nintendo Labo
Overcooked 2
Starlink: Battle for Atlas
Super Mario Party
Winner: Overcooked 2
Best Strategy Game
The Banner Saga 3
BATTLETECH
Frostpunk
Into the Breach
Valkyria Chronicles 4
Winner: Into the Breach
Best Sports/Racing Game
FIFA 19
Forza Horizon 4
Mario Tennis Aces
NBA 2K19
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019
Winner: Forza Horizon 4
Best Multiplayer Game
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Destiny 2: Forsaken
Fortnite
Monster Hunter: World
Sea of Thieves
Winner: Fortnite
Best Student Game
Combat 2018 (Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences)
Dash Quasar (UC Santa Cruz)
JERA (Digipen Bilbao, Spain)
LIFF (ISART Digital, France)
RE: Charge (MIT)
Winner: Combat 2018
Best Debut Indie Game
Donut County
Florence
Moss
The Messenger
Yoku’s Island Express
Winner: The Messenger
Best eSports Game
CS:GO
DOTA2
Fortnite
League of Legends
Overwatch
Winner: Overwatch
Best eSports Player
Dominique “SonicFox” McLean
Hajime “Tokido” Taniguchi
Jian “Uzi” ZiHao
Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev
Sung-hyeon “JJoNak”Bang
Winner: Dominique “SonicFox” McLean
Best eSports Team
Astralis (CS:GO)
Cloud9 (LOL)
Fnatic (LOL)
London Spitfire (OWL)
OG (DOTA2)
Winner: Cloud9 (LOL)
Best eSports Coach
Bok “Reapered” Han-gyu (Cloud9)
Cristian “ppasarel” Banaseanu (OG)
Danny “zonic” Sorensen (Astralis)
Dylan Falco (Fnatic)
Jakob “YamatoCannon” Mebdi (Team Vitality)
Janko “YNk” Paunovic (MiBR)
Winner: Bok “Reapered” Han-gyu (Cloud9)
Best eSports Event
ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018
EVO 2018
League of Legends World Championship
Overwatch League Grand Finals
The International 2018
Winner: League of Legends World Championship
Best eSports Host
Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez
Alex “Machine” Richardson
Anders Blume
Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere
Paul “RedEye” Chaloner
Winner: Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere
Best eSports Moment
C9 Comeback Win in Triple OT vs FAZE (ELEAGUE)
G2 Beating RNG (LOL Worlds)
KT vs IG Base Race (LOL Worlds)
OG’s Massive Upset of LGD (DOTA 2 Finals)
SonicFox Side Switch Against Go1 in DBZ (EVO)
Winner: C9 Comeback Win in Triple OT vs FAZE (ELEAGUE)
Content Creator of the Year
Dr. Lupo
Myth
Ninja
Pokimane
Willyrex
Winner: Ninja
Sources: The Game Awards
